The Gillett Health Podcast Do this if you tear your pec
Dec 26, 2025
Andy Kushner, an orthopedic physical therapist with over 20 years at Athletico, shares invaluable insights on pectoral tendon tears. He discusses his three-day rule for assessing injuries, the importance of early evaluation, and how to manage recovery effectively. Andy emphasizes building resilience, safe rehab practices, and when to safely return to activities like bench pressing. He also critiques extreme online exercise advice and highlights the need for tailored rehab strategies, especially in comparison to professional athlete recovery.
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You Can Stay Active Despite A Pec Tear
- A pec tear often requires temporary local rest but you can maintain overall fitness with lower-body, core, and cardio work.
- Disuse of the injured site doesn't mean total cessation of training for overall health.
Baseline Fitness Is Usually Achievable Post-Injury
- Most injured people can rebuild basic capacities like a 15-minute mile or a 100 lb deadlift with proper rehab and mindset work.
- A small subset of injuries truly prevent those baselines; mindset and confidence often limit recovery more than tissue capability.
Rugby Pectoral Tear And Recovery
- Andy Kushner tore his pectoral in a rugby scrimmage when his arm was forced while holding a teammate in a lineout role.
- He had surgery weeks later and regained range of motion quickly, returning to contact training about six months later.